Apple Inc., Strategic Management Case Analysis

Apple Inc., Strategic Management Case AnalysisWhat is Strategic Management and why is it critical to the success of an organization meeting its goals and mission? Strategic management is the application of the basic planning process at the highest levels of the company. Top management sets goals for the performance of the company carefully formulating, implementing and evaluating plans and strategies. It involves specifying the organization’s mission, vision and objectives, developing policies and plans, often in terms of projects and programs, which are designed to achieve these objectives, and then allocating resources to implement them (Birnbaum,2000). Strategic management is an ongoing process that evaluates and controls the business and the industries in which the company is involved; assesses its competitors and sets goals and strategies to meet all existing and potential competitors; and then reassesses each strategy regularly to determine how it has been implemented and whether it has succeeded or needs replacement by a new strategy to meet changed circumstances, new technology, new competitors, a new economic environment, or a new social, financial, or political environment (Lamb, 1984:ix). Strategic Management Case Analysis: Apple Inc.

Introduction:Apple Computers was founded by, Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs on April 1, 1976. Wozniak was the computer nerd and Jobs was the visionary who sought “to change the world through technology”(Yoffie & Slind, 2008). The two created one of the most successful companies in the world that would in future years be known for their computers, music devices, cell phones and software worldwide. Apple took off after launching Apple II which helped the PC business to generate $1 billion dollars in sales within three years. Apple was the leader, selling more than 100,000 by the end of 1980 (Yoffie...

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Political
With globalization and the rate of world trade at its highest, accompanied with Apple’s relatively “neutral” face on geopolitical issues, Apple has enjoyed as good a wide and stable political state as there has ever been to burst on the scene and rise to unprecedented success.
Economic
The continued bullish market on technology, despite the dotcom and 2008 crisis, which also led to relatively low interest rates, makes for an environment ripe for customers to believe that they “have” to have what Apple is offering; whereas, we were all fine without it for quite some time.
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Technological
Since Apple’s incorporation, the world has experienced an exponential rise in technological breakthroughs and innovations. Undoubtedly, Apple would have no chance in any time period prior. As a leader in technology, Apple is squarely positioned in the cross-hairs of nearly all other technology companies for the purposes of everything from elimination to capitalizing on its success.
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Case 14: Apple Computers in 2012
Background
Apple computer Inc. is a multinational corporation that creates consumer electronic, personal computer, computer software, commercial servers and digital media. Apple‘s core product lines were iPhone, smart phones, iPads, tablet computers iPods, portable media players and Macintosh computers. The founder, Steve Jobs, and Steve Woziak started Apple Computers in 1976 and incorporated it into a company on January 3, 1977 (Cusumano, 2002). For more than two decades, Apple Computers predominantly manufactured computers, which included the Apple II and Macintosh computer product lines. The company upon establishment was successful, but later faced a slump in sales and low market share in the 1990s. Jobs, who had been ousted out of the company in 1985, returned to Apple in 1996 after his company NeXT was purchased by Apple. The following year he became the company’s interim CEO, and afterwards became the CEO. Because of his leadership style and philosophy, Job subsequently instilled a new corporate philosophy of products and simple design, which began with the introduction of the Mac computer.
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1. What were Apple’s competitive advantages?
The PC (personal computer) industry is fairly competitive, making it important for a company like AppleInc. to stand out among its rivals. Although all computers are not created equally and each model can have vast differences, it is sometimes difficult for the end user to differentiate between brands. One competitive advantage for Apple is that Macs are known to be different than all other brands of PCs. To a consumer it sometimes seems like there are two types of computers: Macs, and all other brands. Adding on to this advantage, there are usually positive differences that separate Macs from all other brands. Macs are known to be more “user-friendly” and are advertised to be used right out of the box. They are also known to be more secure than other PCs, since most viruses cannot attach Apple computers. In the AppleInc., 2008 case study, an analyst is quotes as saying, “The majority of IBM and compatible users ‘put up’ with their machines, but Apple’s customers ‘love’ their Macs” (Yoffie & Slind, 2008).
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